A woman from Pennsylvania has made history as the state’s oldest organ donor and the third-oldest in the United States, passing away at the age of 97, according to reports.
Peggy Fields, who chose to become an organ donor later in life, left a remarkable legacy by donating her liver to a woman in Florida, as reported by WTAE.
Fields was known as a “lifelong volunteer,” dedicating much of her time in Pittsburgh to her church, local community, historical societies, and serving as a Girl Scout leader, her daughter Linda Kirk shared with the media outlet.
“She was always volunteering and giving, so this was her final way to give. That’s what I think,” Kirk expressed. “It makes me very proud.”
Kirk added, “It’s important for everyone to know that you don’t have to be young to donate. Even at 97, you can give something to someone in need.”
The Center for Organ Recovery and Education highlighted that Fields’s inspiring decision debunks the myth that age limits one’s ability to donate organs.
“The oldest is actually a 100-year-old now from Nebraska, but Peggy holds the distinction of being Pennsylvania’s oldest donor, the oldest female donor in history, and the third-oldest donor in history just altogether,” Katelynn Metz, of CORE, said.
“They want to know that the last thing they do in their life would be to do something for somebody else, and to give their own families this legacy. They just think that they’re too old,” Metz said.
People of all ages can be organ donors in the US, and doctors decide when you die if your organs are viable for donation, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.
In 2021, one out of every three people who donated organs was over 50, according to statistics from the National Institute on Aging.
